Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Council deal to buy pier for RNLI still not settled
LEGAL documents to seal the sale of Weston-super-Mare’s dilapidated Birnbeck Pier have yet to be signed – despite an agreement being reached nine months ago.
North Somerset Council agreed to buy the crumbling landmark from its owners CNM Estates – headed by businessman Wahid Samday – in November last year.
The idea is for the council to then transfer the pier and island to the RNLI. The site would be renovated and the lifesaving charity return its operations there.
However, nine months after an agreement was reached, the legal paperwork has yet to be signed and the authority is continuing with its compulsory purchase (CPO) of the landmark.
A court date has been set for November 11 to allow the council to take the CPO action forward.
A North Somerset Council spokesperson said: “Following a unanimous decision made by full council in November 2021, we continue to progress plans for Birnbeck Pier.
“While the current owner signed an initial agreement to transfer ownership of the pier to the council, they are unfortunately yet to sign the legal transfer documents to fully commit to the sale.
“The council is continuing to acquire the site under a Compulsory Purchase Order and a date for a hearing to progress this has been set for Friday, November 11.
“We remain focused on the restoration of the Grade II-listed historic structure, allowing vital lifesaving work to be brought back to the island and for public access to be restored.”
The back-to-back deal would mean the pier is transferred immediately to the RNLI, which wants to return its operations to the island and restore public access.
As part of the plan, the RNLI will restore the pier, which over the years has fallen into a dangerous condition, and build a new lifeboat station, training facility and other operational buildings required.
The lifeboat service – based on the landmark for 131 years – was forced to move off the island in 2013 after concerns for the crew’s health and safety because of the dilapidated state of the structure.
It now operates from a temporary base at Knightstone Island. RNLI chiefs say that the island still remains the safest place to base its operations. The fact that the deal still has to be finalised comes at the same time as CNM Estates has submitted plans to redevelop the former Royal Pier Hotel site which sits adjacent to the pier. The development would see a huge apartment block built with 95 flats, restaurant and bar.
There would also be a concierge service, leisure facilities, retail units and a series of outdoor terraces. The development would also include a roof-top sundeck and 80 underground and surface car parking spaces.
Repairs to the seafront promenade are also planned as part of the development. The hotel was ravaged by fires in 2009 and 2010 and was left in a dangerous and dilapidated state before North Somerset Council stepped in later that year to demolish the remains on health and safety grounds.
CNM Estates was approached for comment.